Investigation into 2 Santa Cruz council members found they lacked decorum

Investigation into 2 Santa Cruz council members found they lacked decorum

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Updated: 6:27 PM PDT Aug 22, 2019

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MORE CONTROVERSY FOR THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ. THE MEMO FOLLOWS AN INCIDENT THIS MORNING AT CITY HALL WHERE COUNCILMEMBER DREW GLOVER REPORTEDLY STORMED A CLOSED DOOR MEETING AND CONFRONTED A WOMAN WHO HAD LODGED A COMPLAINT AGAINST HIM. NOT LONG AFTER THE CONFRONTATION... CITY MANAGER MARTIN BERNAL SENT AN INTERNAL MEMO TO STAFF: SAYING.. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY ALL STAFF INTERACTIONS WITH COUNCIL MEMBER DREW GLOVER SHALL BE EXCLUSIVELY THOUGH THE CITY MANAGER, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER AND DEPARTMENT HEADS. THE MEMO WAS THEN LEAKED ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND SHARED WITH KSBW ACTION NEWS EIGHT. FIVE SEPARATE COMPLAINTS WERE FILED AGAINST GLOVER AND COUNCILMAN CHRIS KROHN EARLIER THIS YEAR. YESTERDAY, A REVIEW LOOKING INTO THEIR CONDUCT WAS RELEASED... IT FOUND BOTH MEN VIOLATED THE CITY'S RULES ON RESPECTFUL WORKPLACE CONDUCT. THE REVIEW RECOMMENDED MORE TRAINING, MEDIATION TO ADDRESS ISSUES. THE CITY MANAGER SAYS THE RECOMMENDATIONS PROVIDED SOME REAL GOALS: MARTIN BERNAL-SANTA CRUZ CITY MANAGER 00:19:33 "THE MAIN THING IS THAT WE CLEARLY HAVE WORK TO DO TO IMPROVE RELATIONS AGAINST COUNCILMEMBERS, AND THE GOAL IS TO MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN ORDER TO FOCUS ON GOVERNANCE AND MOVING FORWARD." AND WHILE THAT INDEPENDENT REVIEW FOUND VIOLATIONS- ALSO FOUND THAT THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ DOESN'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE ANY DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST EITHER COUNCILMAN.#

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Investigation into 2 Santa Cruz council members found they lacked decorum

A third-party investigation into two sitting Santa Cruz City Councilmembers found that the current work environment needs to improve. Councilmembers Drew Glover and Chris Krohn were investigated after five separate complaints were filed against them over four months in 2019. The reports alleged that Glover and Krohn had violated the city's administrative rules on respectful workplace conduct and City Council policies on discrimination, harassment and respectful workplace conduct. Of the 13 total allegations against the pair, only one complaint of violating the Respectful Workplace Conduct Policy was upheld for each man. The other 11 charges were not substantiated by the investigator. Glover's substantiated claim was for an incident where he confronted City Councilmember Donna Meyers about her use of a shared conference room. Krohn's substantiated complaint was for when laughing when a city employee offered her "professional opinion" in response to a question. "As elected officials Councilmembers must hold yourselves to a higher standard," wrote the investigator. The $18,000 investigation was conducted by an outside attorney who interviewed ten people as well as the two council members accused of wrong doings, watched hours of city council records and read dozens of documents related to the charges. The investigator gave the following recommendations: Concilmembers should receive training on Policies #1, #2, #4 and City Charter section 809. Councilmembers should participate in professional mediation and conflict resolution. City Staff should receive its post-election on-boarding process for new City Councilmembers.Councilmembers should avoid making public accusations of misconduct or bad faith against one another and against staff without first attempting to address concerns with the person. Utilizing photographs of employees in presentations by Councilmembers should be coordinated through the City Manager's office.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. —

A third-party investigation into two sitting Santa Cruz City Councilmembers found that the current work environment needs to improve.

Councilmembers Drew Glover and Chris Krohn were investigated after five separate complaints were filed against them over four months in 2019. The reports alleged that Glover and Krohn had violated the city's administrative rules on respectful workplace conduct and City Council policies on discrimination, harassment and respectful workplace conduct.

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Of the 13 total allegations against the pair, only one complaint of violating the Respectful Workplace Conduct Policy was upheld for each man. The other 11 charges were not substantiated by the investigator.

Glover's substantiated claim was for an incident where he confronted City Councilmember Donna Meyers about her use of a shared conference room.

Krohn's substantiated complaint was for when laughing when a city employee offered her "professional opinion" in response to a question.

"As elected officials Councilmembers must hold yourselves to a higher standard," wrote the investigator.

The $18,000 investigation was conducted by an outside attorney who interviewed ten people as well as the two council members accused of wrong doings, watched hours of city council records and read dozens of documents related to the charges.